A man with a military-style buzz cut wearing army fatigues and dog tags was arrested at JFK airport Friday afternoon after a customs official caught him impersonating a soldier, cops allege. Rock Diaz, 22, was returning from the Dominican Republic in camouflage fatigues when the official asked him what his rank was. DIaz allegedly told him "E-5," referring to a pay grade, but the Post reports that Diaz was wearing the insignia of a staff sergeant which is "E-6." He also couldn't say where he was stationed or produce a military I.D. It seems the same sloppy attention to detail seen in his dog tags, too.
Sources tell the Post the dog tags were simply engraved, "Marine Corps. USA," and that Diaz was also wearing a black POW patch in the wrong place. "If you knew anything about the military and you looked at him, you could tell he wasn't really a soldier," a Port Authority cop told a reporter for the Post, which also got Diaz on the phone. He claims he never said he as a soldier, and never asked for an upgrade, but merely moved where the flight attendant told him to move. Diaz blames the confusion on a language barrier. He's charged with second degree impersonation, and NY Post commenter Barbara S. observes, "He'll plead not guilty. He'll claim it's free speech. He'll get off too. Thanks Democrats!"
